Author's Note

Alright, this chapter kicks it up quite a bit. Things are going to get much worse. Still, I hope you guys like this chapter and that you will continue to tell me what you think. Read with caution. But please read.

Hail To The Queen

Garble rested within his cage, staring out into the arena. Not for the first time he picked at the muzzle that had been screwed unto his face. Lifting his eyes, he beheld what had become of Ember. Permenently bent over a table, her teeth and claws removed, she eagerly jerked off two caribou, while a third made use of her mouth. Garble snarled as a fourth carribou slammed its foul cock inside the former Queen of the Dragons. The Queen moaning at the harsh entry. Soon they had finished, the two to the sides spraying their foulness across her wingless back, the third and fourth finishing inside. All four wiped themselves upon her, then moved on for the next quartet to take their turn.

"If not for that spell, she'd be making them sing a different tune." Garble seethed, the muzzle muffling his words.

Not that there was any to hear. Not in this accursed land. But Garble smiled, but they would not break him. No one ruled him that did not earn it. Spike and Ember both had. Spike by claiming the secpter and Ember by ruling strongly when Spike gave it to her.

"She'd even threatened war a couple of times." Garble remembered fondly, "She was never the ponies lapdog."

The opening of the doors of the arena interrupted his memories as a shape swathed in fabric was dragged inside. It was built unlike anything he had seen before. It had no claws or hooves. Did not appear to favor the soft lines of the ponies, instead being built more like a slender minotaur. It was swathed in clothes, and what little could be seen of underneath glittered with metal. The cage next to him was opened and the figure was unceremoniously dumped inside. Extending his claw to check the creature for life, he was shocked when the creature snatched his hand. A small amount of life force flowed into the creature, but this ended when again the creature passed out.

Garble's eyes narrowed. "A Changeling? But they disappeared after the invasion. Anyways you look like no Changeling I've ever seen and our Queen claimed their King as her mate."

Scenting the creature, he recoiled at the unfamaliar smell. "Well, May you die in the arena before you face me. All who face me, face their death."

Settling back inside his cage, Garble scented the air once more. A fresh breeze blew from the east, things were moving, whether for good or ill would just have to be seen.

Innocent woke from his dream into another. He was inside a Palace. To the east was a grand Library on all the subjects that interested him, to the west was all he would need for his Alchemy, to the north a weaponsmithy and to the south a workshop to produce all other things. He sat in the center of an open room, a desk with all of his Enchanment formulas before him. Turning huis chair he saw that in the center of the room was a circular table, not unlike the cutie map of old. The clearing of a throat told him he was not alone.

"Alright you and I need to talk right now Innocent," The woman before him scolded, "To many mysteries and not enough answers."

Staying silent, Innocent examined the woman. She wore her hair tied back in a bun, glasses framed her piercing green eyes. Her broad shoulders and well endowed chest were framed by an open suit jacket accented by a white frilled shirt, the top couple of buttons opened just enough to show a red bra underneath. He waist sloped inwards, only to curve outward again into her wide hips. Both were contained within a knee length skirt slitted to expose her pantyhose clad long powerful legs. The woman wore flats, sensible but stylish.

Smiling, Innocent teased, "Aegis, Why are you dressed as a naughty librarian?"

Aegis leaned over him, the act allowing Innocent an ample view of her equally ample cleavage, whispering into his ear she asked, "Your subconscious picked this form, the better question is why do you imagine me this way?"

Garble once more looked out into the Arena, trying to shift within the confines his cage he was once more reminded of the bindings on his wings as the peices of metal bolted through the bones kept him from settling. Huffing out some air at the pain, he once more looked to his Queen. She was again servicing four at once, this time the four caribou all added another coating to the many that muted the color of her blue scales. Garble sneered as Ember gleefully squealed at the warm bath she was given.

"I really can't wait till she is free." He growled to himself.

Shaking his head he once more reflected on his situation. Dainn had offered him the rulership of the dragons, had offered everything he had ever wanted.

"Heh, don't know why he was shocked when I laughed in his face." Garble snarked to himself, "Anyone would have told him, a dragon takes what is his. If he can not take it, it was never his. Spike took the scepter, he gave it to Ember. Ember kept it. I may try to take it from her, I may have always opposed her, but that was dragon business. None others have any say in it. We handle our own problems. Don't need some stupid Caribou cheat to get what I want. I get what I want on my own, as a proper Dragon always does."

Innocent stuttered a moment, Aegis's closeness disrupting his famed stoicism, "Well, I honestly can not account for what my subconscious does now can I?"

Straightening herself Aegis smiled down upon him. "I already know why you see me this way. I'm flattered. But for now unto bussiness. Maybe later we can have some fun."

Taking advantage of Innocent's sputtering she waved a hand over to the circular table. A Holograhpic version of Innocent arose, sans clothing. To his gratitude his genitally was blurred. All other parts where on full display.

"How in the hell did you survive all those modifications?" Aegis demanded.

Chuckling, Innocent answered, "Pain is a choice for me remember? The ability wears me thin at times but also means that I can exceed the weakness of flesh, provided I have the appropriate tools. What you see it the result of personal experimentation over quite a few years."

Narrowing his eyes, he stated. "Alright I have answered one of yours, now answer one of mine. Why am I inside of my own mind?"

"Because you did a damn stupid thing!" Aegis shot back, "Using a boomtube like that is dangerous. Even if you are Desad's son."

"What in the name of Uncle Monkey Fuck are you talking about? Desad is a fiction in my universe."

"Desad exists above all other universes. You, Innocent Bystander are an unforseen complication of a plan by my lord Desad. Using a plan a lesser, but not ungifted mind, used, Dasad planned for a time when noble Darkseid would tire of him. So he scattered a nanovirus into the multiverse that would first replace the sperm in infected males, after an egg was fertilizied it would continue into the fetus and change the fetus into an exact clone of Desad. You Innocent were spared this fate because the virus only replaces Human DNA and half of yours is not."

"What does the other half consist of?"

"Equestrian, specifically Diamond Dog and Changeling, which would explain not only your modifications but your other gifts as well. Not to mention how you survived such extensive self improvemnet."

"How is any of this possible?"

"C'mon Innocent, You know the answer to that one."

"Starswirl."

"Indeed."

"What of Dagur?"

"Oh, he'll remain dead until needed."

"Excellent."

Garble glanced over as his new neighbor groaned.

"Where am I and why do I feel hungover without the goodtime?" The newcomer snarked.

Garble smirked, at last someone with some balls, "You and I are guests of the Caribou." Pointing towards Ember he snarked, "She's dinner and we're the show. Hope you know how to fight or you are going to have a tough time. What are you?"

"I am someone that forged themselves. What about you Garble? What will you forge of yourself?"

Garble narrowed his eyes, "How did you know my name?"

"Who else is such a child as to sit here and pout? You know how to free yourself. You have always known."

Garble's voice lowered dangerously, "I do not sing, that is something that the weak ponies do. I will win as a dragon, as a man. I will take back that which is mine."

The main gate to the arena interrupted their conversation as... something came through. It stood almost as tall as the 12ft wall of the sunken arena, the tips of its horns just falling short. Four legs jutted from a central barrelled torso as four long scalled thick arms hung from its shoulders, a fang filled maw split the head. The locks to their cages disengaged in the same moment.

The stranger stepped forward, "That is not what a man does, a man does what is nessecary to protect that which he finds precious. He cries his tears of blood, each tear healing the wounds of those around him. He casts a shade that all may rest in peace under. Violence and domination are easy, everything else only men can do."

Pointing to the screws that bound the muzzle directly into the bones of his skull, Garble muttered, "This Muzzle is not just for show, it will hurt to remove it."

"Such a child, afraid of a little pain." Knodding his head to Ember the stranger said unto Garble, "That up their is pain, to be forced into that. You are a mewling child. You allowed that to continue. She suffers because of your weakness. Do what you wilt. I am going to have a conversation with big, violent and ugly. I have no wish to continue talking to you."

Garble watched as the stranger strode forward, confident and strong, and for the first time knew shame. Still Garble uttered one last parting shot.

"Easy for you to say, you've never had to tear something out thats screwed in, down to the bone." Garble sneered.

Light glowed as the creature gathered pure energy between its horns, directing it downward into the Stranger's encroaching figure, the creature fired. Garble lost sight of the stranger as the force of the blast caused him to stagger back. Garble could smell the floor burning as the blast continued until at last their was silence as it ended.

Smirking Garble turned back, only to be shocked as he beheld the imposible. The stranger stood unharmed, his clothing torn and burnt. Scars covered his body and metal framed him. His legs below the knee had been replace with coiled springs with a central support connecting to the strangers feet. Garble could see that the metal ran scaffold like through the stranger's body. The Stranger's left arm glimmered in the darkness as the absorbed energy radiated off.

"Huh, I guess you do know what its like, Huh?" Garble muttered through the muzzle.

"If you will not sing," The stranger shouted to Garble, "then ROAR!"

Garble smiled nastily, that he could do. Reaching up with both hands, he grasped the abomination grafted to his face. Anger welled up in him. Anger at the Caribou for what they had done, Anger at everyone else for being beaten, and finally anger at himself for his failure. Spurned on by the memories, not just of what had been done to him, but what he had seen them do to Ember.

"I have had ENOUGH!" He roared as he tore the muzzle from his face.

More than the blood dripping from his face, Garble could feel it rising inside of him, this Heartsong.

"Buck It," Garble snarled. "Time to let them see a real dragon's song of RAGE!!!!!"

Seeing the danger the creature readied another shot, only for the stranger to leap upwards and grab one of its horns. The stranger then threw his weight downwards, pulling the creature down with it. Thus buying Garble all the time he needed.

Watch Your Time Run Out
I'll See All Of You Dead
Your Lies Inside Her Mind
Clouding Her Head
All That's Over Now,
I Answer Her Call
Obedient To Her Wishes
I'll Watch You Fall
I Will See All You Wrought
Reduced To Ashes
Bringing Daylight
To Her Night
Your Deaths Are Being Called
Down Upon You
She Will Take Your Lives
Hail To The Queen

Ember could hear something through the warm pleasure, something loud and obnoxious. It angered her.

Hail To The One

Again the shout, this time pushing past the warm feeling on her skin, past it. Were a different fire dwealt.

Heed To The Stone

The Stone? Her hands paused in their motion, her mouth and tounge pausing in their duty unto her male rulers. Her pussy clenched as her long sinuous tail began to wrap around the Caribou that dared to assume her affections. To late did her rapists realize their danger.

You Are The One
Hail To The King

Garble smiled nastily, she was waking up. But still his heartsong was undone. He bore no love for Ember and her peaceful ways, but she had earned her leadership. He looked to the stranger and watched as the one that had verbally slapped the stupid out of him eviscerated the horror that was meant to kill them. He smiled as caribou jumped into the arena. Let them come, the heartsong was banking his fire. Soon he would have meat.

Your Slaughter Assured
When You Bound Her Above
Put Me Down Here
Then Angered Us Both
No Mercy From
Claws Like Blades
No Escape You'll Learn
Is The Price To Be Paid
Let The Blood Flow
Unto The Floor Now
You All Falling To The Knife
Your Death Is Coming To You
Come To Take All Your Lives
Hail To The Queen

Gripping those that dared so assault her, Ember tore the cocks from the front three.

"I thought you liked it when I swallowed," She snarked to them as she consumed their manhoods

Turning to the one strugglng with her tail, she wrapped her full length around him, "But just before you liked it that I was so tight, why are you complaining now?"

Tighter she squeezed him, untill the blood leaked out his eyes, and his struggling ceased.

"Huh, I'm still not satisfied, well I think I deserve some satisfaction." She snarled as the blood of her enemies drenched her blue scales. Hearing Garbles roar she looked down, smiling nastily she looked out unto those before her. The magic of the Heartsong restoring her claws and fangs. Her fire once more burned inside as she answered Garble's Call

I Am The Queen
I Earned The Stone
I Rule Over All
I Am The Queen

Hearing Garble's reply, she smiled, then returned to the slaughter.

Garble watched as his Queen took her vengeance. Smiling joyuously as once more she bathed herself in blood, he turned to those that had come to him for their deaths. It was so considerate when the prey came to be consumed. Fire poured from his mouth, followed by the delicous aroma of Venison. He called his loyalty onto her, the one true leader of the Dragons.

I Can Taste Their Fear
This Henchman's Cull
I Come To Claim Them
I Will Come To Claim Them All
Hail To My Queen
Hail To The One
Heed The Stone
Stand For The One
Hail To My Queen
Rise Of The One
Return Of The Stone
She Is The One
Hail To My Queen

As his heartsong faded, he watched as the last of the Caribou fell by her hand, as was fitting. Going to join her he knealt before her.

"I apoplogize your Highness. It took me far to long to do what I needed to do. My pride got in my way. I will accept whatever punishment you see fit."

He could feel the smile in her voice. "Get the everloving Fuck up, Garble. We don't do that shit. Now, who's your friend?"

Garble turned to see the stranger step up to them.

"My name is Innocent Bystander, and I think you're both going to like what I have to offer.